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Book-It Repertory Theatre
Category: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Performing Arts [Edit]
Seattle Center House305 Harrison St
Seattle, WA 98109
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
(206) 216-0833
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 12 pm - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Book-It Repertory Theatre
12 reviews in English
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Review from Mish M.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had such a fantastic time at Book-It! I went to see Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant this year and it was a most wonderful production with an amazingly talented cast! It's a smaller theatre, but it makes it feel more intimate and special. Their mission is to transform books into stage works, and they do this beautifully. It's such a unique idea!
As others have mentioned, be warned that the actors will speak the entire text of the book, not just the actual dialoge, sometimes referring to themselves in the third person. This is a Book-It trademark. Instead of being annoyed at this, I think it's super cool. It adds to the unique feel of your theatre experience and makes it unforgettable.
Thanks Book-It for a fantastic evening! -
Review from Tom B.
12/19/2011 1 photo
We're lucky to have such an unusual and interesting theater company in Seattle that's still so accessible. You really can go to the theater here with just about anybody--all the productions are appropriate for all ages, and the programming is usually interesting enough that most any tastes will be pleased on some level.
I've seen two productions here, both, coincidentally enough, adaptations of John Irving works. Cider House Rules was workshopped at the Rep from the Leo K stage to, eventually I think, the main stage. We saw both parts late in the workshop run at the Leo K, and they were excellent throughout. Great material transposed for the boards with real elegance--all the moments were there but the story felt economical and there was still plenty of room for the characters. Jane Jones and Tom Hulce were both there, brows furrowed, taking notes near the back.
Owen Meany's Christmas Pageant is a bit of a holiday tradition that thankfully has been revived. We saw it at North Seattle Community College about ten years ago, and it was hilarious then. We also saw it at Seattle Center this year, and that's a great little auditorium. The seats are a bit old and low and worn-out, but it's a great space for theater. And OMCP was even funnier this time around. They really do a great job of making theater truly entertaining. Their sensibilities are hardly avant-garde, but to see theater for the fun of it, it's hard to find a better spot. -
Review from Deborah P.
Seattle, WA
2/26/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Our first visit to the Book-It, and I'm ready to become a subscriber. Their presentation of "Great Expectations" is as good as it gets. The characters are perfect. The creative use of cast and minimal sets are perfect.
I am only disappointed that I've missed their productions of so many other favorite books. -
Review from Me H.
Seattle, WA
11/30/2007
You know how a lot of times books are made into movies to entertain the masses? Well Book-It Repertory is kind of the same but the book is being re-written/adapted and made into a live theater to, per their website, "spark the audience's interest in reading." The actors speak both the narration of the story and the dialogue, multiple characters do this not just one, which can be a bit annoying at time for me.
The Book-It Repertory shares their space at the Seattle Center House with the Seattle Shakespeare Co so if you know where they perform you'll be able to find Book-It. I will recommend if you do go see a play pick seats in the center section so you can get a full view of the stage, when sitting in the sides seats you sometimes miss some of the action.Listed in: Go get some culture
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Review from Sara L.
8/13/2007
Book-It Repertory is great because it is completely unique. Located in the Seattle Center House, its entire purpose is to bring books to life using the original words of the author. Instead of using a traditional script, Book-It takes text from novels, and puts it directly into the actors mouths. This can be kind of hard to get used to at first (the actors speak both dialogue and narration in character), but it's a fascinating way to experience literature and theatre.
If you've ever loved to read, but wished that you could see the characters in front of you instead of in your head, this is the place to go.
Really, check it out!
This season looks awesome! Confederacy of Dunces, Emma, The River Why, and The Cider House Rules pt. 1 -- I will be there. -
Review from Victoria B.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 10/27/2010
Thinking of going to Cider House Part II? Think no more. Action is worth a thousand words. As the commanding Dr. Larch and his strapping assistant Homer Wells enter our consciousness a situation begins to brew. The characters begin to blend and antagonize as the stew thickens. Candy and Wally become vehicle for the plot of abortion, and Homer becomes a love interest to Candy. The menacing Melody invades the stage, announces her presence and begins to love in her own heavy handed way. But this time she has two love interests
Since we named the play a stew lets just say director Jane Jones is Chef extraordinaire giving life and love to the novel. She has an ability to balance complicated comings and goings, great music and sublime actors and fill the room with a savory aroma. It's texture is heavy and still manages to be whimsical when the time is right.
Did I say 5 stars? I meant it.
Again, Book-it is one of the most enjoyable theater experiences I have come upon. Most of my theater audience experience is in LA from small equity houses to the Dorthy Chandler and the LA Opera. It doesn't get much better than Book-it!2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/23/2010
I have not seen anything but great work at Book-it Repertory Theater.
Cider House couldn't get much… Read more »
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Review from heather j.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
10/14/2010
I had never heard of this theater until I saw they were playing a book I just read and decided to check it out. Its hidden in the seattle center house, down in the bottom. I have been to the center house a thousand times and don't think I ever ever saw it. I have seen 2 great plays here so far and am planning to see my 3rd this weekend. The actors here do such a great job. Plays are exactly like the book and its such a small venue you can see everything on stage. This is really a great place to go for a play. Best of all if you can score a chinook book coupon you can get 2 tickets for the price of one. I hope they do something I like every season so I can make this a tradition.
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Review from Ryan B.
Seattle, WA
3/7/2011
What a wonderful experience! The adaptation of Charles Dickens Great Expectations was amazing. I liked the history of Charles Dickens posted on the wall for everyone to read.
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Review from Hanna W.
Seattle, WA
3/18/2008
A couple of weeks ago, my very pregnant friend and I went to Book-It Repertory to see their production of Persuasion. If you have never been to Book-It then you really should check it out. The performance space is jammed into the bottom of the Center House at the Seattle Center. There is no traditional stage. Instead you walk in and the stadium seating is set up in a circle around the floor. Don't let the word stadium lead you to think it is big. It is tiny. The set up alone makes the performances feel very intimate. Combine that with the actors using the aisles to come on and off stage and it feels almost interactive. Now I am no theater critic so I will leave criticism of the actors to someone else. I didn't think it was stellar but still completely enjoyable. What attracts me to Book-It the most is the stage production...or lack thereof. I am fascinated how they use this tiny space with virtually no sets. There maybe a couple of chairs and a few steps but that is it. At times there was nothing at all. It still works so well and is not really noticeable. Also, with what small props they do use, they are constantly moving then around throughout the play. I was so impressed at how seamless it looked.
I will definitely be going back next season. -
Review from Sam B.
Seattle, WA
12/11/2008
I went to my first show at Book-It last weekend and it was a terrific experience. As other reviewers have written, they really know how to bring a book to life. The best part about reading literature is the way it gets your imagination to take over and Book-It successfully takes that to the stage. You become totally immersed in the story.
I saw My Antonia and although I haven't read the book, I definitely want to now! The coolest thing to me was the way the narration flowed between characters as dialogue (and on top of that, most of the actors played several different characters). And the acting was fantastic -- especially the two main actors, who it turns out both work for Book-It on the administrative side. Their love for and dedication to theater was clear. The stage was beautifully simple as were the lights, backdrop, costumes, props, and music. But the production doesn't end when you leave the theater. The lobby had a photo slideshow portraying people from the story's time period and large pieces of butcher paper on the wall encouraging audience members to write down their own family's story (in line with the play's themes). Reading the stories there gave the play even more life and provided some insight into how others interpreted it.
So clearly Book-It is truly unique and a gem that more people in Seattle should go check out. I can't wait to see Moby Dick -- their next show and a book I've actually read! -
Review from Jean-marc l.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 9/22/2010
well what can I say but absolutely brilliant !!! cider house rules part two was even better than the first! so many more actors ! and the music ! i've never heard it played so well, a real highlight ! wanna say thanks to everyone for putting on a great show! I would really recommend seeing this even if you didn't see part one(there's a recap) JUST GO!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/16/2010
wow !! we had a great time !! The cider house rules indeed ! um adult content to say the least.… Read more »
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Review from Susan C.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 2/18/2011
The current production of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' (through 3/13/11) is not to be missed. First and foremost, kudos to director, Kevin McKeon, for his skilled staging and creative use of his talented cast working in the beautiful set design. Andrea Bryn Bush's design is breathtaking: wild lenghts of plastic wrap strung across the top of the stage in a crazy spider web, with echoes of the web painted on the floor. Evocative of the 'web of intrigue' the characters are caught in, as well as the cobwebby environs of the Havisham manse, the design is perfectly lit and is an art piece that will be a shame to dismantle. It is a delight to see artisitc director, Jane Jones, performing again in dual roles. Her Mrs. Joe showcases her deft comic abilities and her Miss Havisham is pitch perfect - not too much crazy, but enough instability mingled with a touching vulnerability that, despite all preconceptions, you have to love her. The whole cast is a dream, but a shout out to Michael Patten's turn as the calculating Jaggers and Sylvie Davidson's luminous performance as Biddie/Estella. It's productions like this that inspire me to become a more generous donor to these amazing theatre artists. Bravo again to the fabulous Book-it team!
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/17/2010
Bravo to the nth power!! Cider House Rules Part 2 is really theater arts at its highest… Read more »
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